more norwegian goodness

first off i'd like to say sorry if this is late and thanks if you're reading it today, on the 8th, as i'm trying to get this to post using the scheduling function again since i'm out later tonight as this massive house party a girl i know is having as her parents are on holiday. i said i'd go round during the day and help her put stuff away and get everything sorted and ready for it, and as a result i'm not around to post this when i should. so, if you are reading this a day late, on the 9th, i apologise. if not, i'm amazed that i actually managed to figure it out!

anyway, we featured a mixtape and a few tracks from illstm, based in norway, a while back. i promised an interview with the man back then, and now i can actually fulfill that promise. enjoy reading this. i know i certainly did!

us: Hey IllStM and welcome to wecandyflip. Could you please introduce yourself?
illstm: Haha, in French "introduce yourself" means: "put something into your body": NO THX!

us: And how would you describe your music?
illstm: My music is sharp to flip the dancefloor. The idea is to mix Zouk and Black Metal.

us: How did you get where you are now? ie. how did you get into producing and remixing electronic music?
illstm: Haha, I'm not sure to be somewhere. And I don't say that because i live in Oslo, no misunderstanding!! More seriously, I have followed the electronic music since I was 15 years old with the first free parties in France (spi, furious etc..), of course I wasn't there only for the music ;) At this time, all the electronic music made with a clap and a bitchy voice was big shit for me. The first time I was in a club, I went to listen to Garnier and the awesome live of Scan X, and I thought: "OK maybe I'll not forever be lost in a forest, dancing with a pack of 12 dogs under a strobe set to 180bpm." At this time I produced Hardtek or Acidcore with fruity loops or rebirth.. but it was not a big succes! I was better with my saxophone, playing other musical styles like funk, punk or free jazz.

us: What have been the main influences on your music?
illstm: Same: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puwllq0fBLs
And of course: Ingmar Bergman, Gilles Deleuze and Arvö Part.

us: You worked with vocalist Hanny on one of your tracks. Are you thinking about any other collaborations in the future?
illstm: For sure! She's amazing!

us: What are you currently working on? Can we expect any new tracks or remixes from you before too long?
illstm: A new track feat Malik aka Anatomy, MC from Chicago. Don't try to find his Myspace, he doesn't have one, pure underground MC ;) My first priority it's to produce original tracks, not rmx. I can rmx my friends or if u ask me, but it's really not my goal to produce 10 rmx'es by day of famous artists to make noize around my name. At the moment I prefer to make my own shit.

us: Or an IllStM EP?
illstm: EP for what? I prefere to give my tracks for free on 10 good blogs than an EP. "Uppercut" is released on CB LYON Rec, I accepted only because A Girl And A Gun asked for it, and I'm not very good at saying no! If one day I work with a label, it will be because I want to integrate a family, to work with a famous sound egineer and share experience. For example if BNR ask me to sign something, I dont know if I will accept.. PLEASE TRY! TRY! ASK ME!! Haha

us: What is your setup for producing new material?
illstm: My knife and my balls!

us: If no new music for us quite yet, how about performances? Any gigs lined up at the moment?
illstm: Mostly in Scandinavia, IllStM is a very young project (I started it 5 month ago) and I have already played with big names like Sinden, Etienne de Crecy and Mstrkrft. Each time the crowd has thought I was there to do the warm-up for the main artist, but after 2 min it's become a burn-up. I'm very glad lots of people like my music and want to see me, and that with no big team around me.. it's crazy!

us: What are your thoughts on a tour?
illstm: I want, that's why I try to organize a little bit the project and try to find a good booker to work with me. Why do u think duos are going very fast compared to people working on their own? It's not only about music, it's a lot of work also!

us: If you could play anywhere and with anyone, what would your ideal gig be?
illstm: I can imagine a lot of crazy and weird things, but to be sentimental: My ideal gig will be to play with other artists who are really good friends. When the line up is a real family, u can feel it on the dancefloor. It's a real party!

us: Have you got any crazy or embarassing stories from a gig or party?
illstm: u dont want to know

us: When you are at parties or just out, what is your drink of choice?
illstm: I don't drink, i only sweat!

us: What is the music scene like in your area?
illstm: Minimal progressive and Black Metal... make your choice...

us: Do you think you are working on changing that at the moment?
illstm: Yes i try to loose weight and to make my hair growing again!

and on top of this interview, i have for you another mixtape from the man himself from back in september 2008. this one weighs in at just under a hefty fifty minutes and has a brilliant set of tracks. scroll down a little to see the list, and get the tape downloaded or playing and kick it for a bit.

The Kelly Family & Pavarotti - Ave Maria
Terry Poison - 24 Hours (Aston Shuffle's A-Bomb rmx)
Robosonic - Kaputt in Hollywood (Santiago & Bushido rmx)
Little Boots - Stuck On Repeat (Fake Blood rmx)
Estelle - Americanboy (VNNR Go West rmx)
Feadz - Humanoid (CCC rmx)
Hatiras & MC Flipside - Get Blahsted (Original mix)
Trash Yourself - Touch (AC Slater rmx)
The Presets - My People (DIM rmx)
Hostage - Rooted
Estaw - Break It Down (Detboi's Mental Breakdown rmx)
Truth - Magical Amount (Sega rmx)
Crookers - Sveglia (Oh Snap Booty Alarm mix)
Britney Spears - Radar (Hot Pink Delorean rmx)
Trash Yourself - Fuck the Police
Count & Sinden - Beeper (A-Trak rmx)
Kriss Kross - Jump (Funkanomics Planet Cross rmx)